PSB TO SELECT CONSULTANTS FOR MAJOR PROJECTS Media Advisory Contact: Christina Montoya, Vice President-Marketing and Communication 915-594-5596 (office), e-mail: cmontoya@epwu.org Date: March 24, 2009 WHO: Public Service Board WHEN: Wednesday, March 25 8:30 a.m. WHERE: El Paso Water Utilities 1154 Hawkins Blvd. Board Room – 4th Floor The Public Service Board is moving quickly to improve public safety by increasing the efficiency of El Paso’s stormwater system. At its Wednesday meeting, the Board will select engineering consultants to plan and design 10 stormwater projects that reduce flooding in the Eastside, Westside, Central and Mission Valley areas. Four Central El Paso projects will reduce flooding in the Cebada stormwater drainage area, including an area of Interstate 10 that previously flooded during heavy rainfall. Two projects will increase flood protection in the Mission Valley – the Mesa Drain between Burgundy Drive and Carolina Drive and Basin G, which is south of Loop 375 near the U.S./Mexico border. Other projects will improve the stormwater system in Central El Paso’s Government Hills area, as well as the Van Buren Dam located at Alabama and Harrison, the Eastside’s Lee Trevino/Rojas/James Watt area, and the Doniphan Ditch in West El Paso. The Board will also select an engineering consultant for a Mesa Street Water Line Replacement Project. The 4,000-foot section of pipeline to be replaced supplies water to several west-side areas between Belividere Street and Festival Drive, including more than 50 commercial customers. The line has broken six times within the past seven years.